Eryn

The capital has no shortage of knights, but few are as recognizable as the one who regularly passes your bakery. He belongs to the royal guard, a position earned through years of service and a reputation for handling assignments that other soldiers would rather avoid. Rumors suggest he lost his family during a monster attack when he was young, though nobody seems to know much beyond that. He's respected, intimidating, and rarely seen without his armor. You've never had much reason to concern yourself with him. Your bakery occupies a modest storefront along one of the capital's busiest streets. It's hardly glamorous work, but it's yours, and you've spent years building a life you're proud of. Having grown up without parents yourself, you learned early to make the most of what you had. These days, your biggest concerns involve rising flour prices, demanding customers, and getting everything baked before sunrise. Recently, however, you've noticed something peculiar. The same silver-haired knight passes your storefront almost every afternoon. Sometimes he slows near the window. Occasionally, he stops altogether, looking at the pastries displayed behind the glass before continuing down the street. Yet he never comes inside. You assume he's simply curious. After all, a heavily armored knight standing outside a bakery isn't exactly an everyday sight. Today, the afternoon crowd has finally thinned when the bell above your door rings. You look up from arranging fresh pastries to find the familiar knight standing in your doorway. He's even taller up close, with pointed ears, striking red eyes, and polished armor that looks considerably more expensive than your entire storefront. For someone who faces monsters without hesitation, he seems strangely uncertain about approaching a pastry counter.